March 21, 2015 104 Comments

Curry Braised Chicken Thighs

Name: Curry Braised Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs, on the bone, skin removed; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons canola oil (or as needed); 1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced; 2 medium carrots, quartered lengthwise, then cut into 2-inch pieces; 1 tablespoon curry powder, such as Madras; 1 tablespoon minced ginger; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can (14.5-ounce) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 cup chicken broth; 1/2 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish; Cooked brown basmati rice; Plain yogurt (optional)

Curry Braised Chicken Thighs is a delicious Indian-inspired dinner for two. Spicy, flavorful and budget-friendly, it’s sure to spice up the night with your loved one!

What is braising?

One of my absolute favorite cooking methods is a slow braise; it’s almost magical!

Braising uses both moist and dry heat. A tough cut of protein that has lots of connective tissue, is first seared at a high temperature. Then, it simmers at a low temperature for up to several hours. During this process, the connective tissue breaks down and the tough cut of protein is transformed into something buttery and fall-off-the-bone tender.

For this recipe, I used budget-friendly chicken thighs which lend themselves well to the braising method. However, chicken thighs don’t take hours to become tender.

Indian cuisine may seem intimidating at first because of all the exotic spices. However, this recipe for Curry Braised Chicken Thighs uses ingredients found at any local grocery store or international market like Madras curry powder.

What is Madras curry powder?

Madras curry powder isn’t authentically Indian. It was created by the British to try and mimic the amazing curry flavors of India which they fell in love with when India was one of their territories.

A word of warning: Madras curry powder can be very hot. In addition to ground chilies, it also has spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and fenugreek. If you enjoy curry but don’t like the heat, substitute a mild curry powder here or blend your own. (Affiliate link.)

Vary the vegetables and use cubed sweet potato, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets or spinach instead of carrots. Chickpeas would also make a nice addition. Serve with plenty of brown basmati rice to soak up this flavor-packed sauce. If desired, a dollop of plain yogurt will help cool it down.

Serve Curry Braised Chicken Thighs with:

Brown or white basmati rice
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter and Almonds

Want more amazing Indian-inspired curry recipes? Be sure to check these out!

Click to purchase these helpful tools and equipment to make Curry Braised Chicken Thighs (Affiliate Links):

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Yield: 2